Fremont Ellis was one of the founders of the Santa Fe "Los Cinco Pintores" in 1921,  followers, at the time, of the new modernism and strong color . But  Ellis could never fully accept the modernist idiom into his work.  As a young man, he had spent a great deal of time at The Metropolitan in New York City, studying the American Impressionist paintings there. Their influence permeates his work as prominent brushwork, lack of detail, and an arresting sense of light - all evident in this hacienda entry.  The soft earthy color is here vigorously applied, carrying the essence of the New Mexico surroundings, but in a more romantic and lyrical sense - more in the Taos manner.  He lived and painted in the Santa Fe area for nearly 60 years.  He also worked in California for a short time.  His work is housed in The White House, UCLA Hammer Museum, Addison Gallery of American Art,  and Museum of New Mexico, among many others.

Charles Herbert Woodbury

American 1864 – 1940 (Massachusetts & Maine)

“Sun on Narrow Cove, Ogunquit”

Signed Charles H. Woodbury l.r.

Oil on Board

Charles Herbert Woodbury is recognized as one of the finest marine painters of the 20^th century.  He chose to live and work near the water, in Ogunquit, Maine.  There, in 1898, he founded the Ogunquit School, and became one of the most influential teachers of his time, training over 4000 students – many of whom were already important painters.  He taught there until his death in 1940, and was singly responsible for the making Ogunquit a preeminent summer art colony.  He also taught at Wellesley College, Dartmouth College, and The Art Institute of Chicago. Woodbury had over 100 solo exhibitions in his lifetime, in addition to invitational and juried shows.  Memorial exhibitions have continued, including the 1988 M.I.T. monumental Woodbury exhibition titled Earth, Sea and Sky that traveled to museums through 1993. 

He is represented in many major museums throughout America.

In his sea paintings you see not only transparent liquidity of water, but the motion that he held so very important.  He told his students to paint in verbs, not nouns: "Don't just paint it, paint it doing something."  This sense of things in motion, produced through quick, sure-handed strokes, conveys his mastery of the mediums.  Woodbury's discipline to discern and quickly to record those observations was fundamental, and extremely evident in the luminous and spontaneous "Sun on Narrow Cove, Ogunquit".  In viewing his water, I am always met with the strong desire to touch the surface.

William Lester Stevens

American 1888-1969 (Massachusetts)

“Spring Blooms on the Farm”
Watercolor & Gouache on Illustration Board

Signed W. Lester Stevens l.r.

William Lester Stevens was the youngest member to exhibit in New York’s National Academy, with 5 paintings accepted at age 18, in 1906.  Stevens was born in Rockport, Massachusetts, and is considered one of Cape Anne’s leading painters.  He was compulsive about painting outdoors daily, often tying his easels down with rocks on windy days.  He was prolific, producing over 5000 paintings during his lifetime, and receiving more awards than any other living artist of the era.  He also taught at Princeton and Boston Universities. 

His bold brushwork, loaded with color, and often with black-outlined subject matter, depicted the farms, quarries, and fishing industry of Cape Anne, as well as North Carolina, where he worked shortly.  The presented work embodies the best of Stevens’ strong compositions and coloration, with the usual slashing directional brush strokes.  Its life under glass makes the condition pristine, with brilliant colors.

Stevens is represented in 15 museums, including The Smithsonian.  He has been the subject of one monograph in book form (W. Lester Stevens, N.A. (Judith Curtis), and one by American Art Review, October 2003.

Housed in a 22K giltwood carved frame.

Arthur Bowen Davies

"An important but enigmatic modernist whose art was poetic, mysterious, and visionary".

He worked in almost all media, including sculpture, printmaking, watercolor, oil, glass and weavings. His subjects often include female nudes dancing in landscapes, many entwined or joining hands, as the above. Interestingly, he painted only two women: his mistress (1903-13) and a model, Wreath McIntyre (1914-28). He served as president of Society of Independent Artists and was active in arranging the famous Armory Show of 1913. Macbeth Galleries (NYC) was his dealer.

This is an excellent example of his dancing ladies.  The palette is considerably more vibrant than many of his related canvases, yet still features the grey tones so characteristic in many of his works.  The scene is joyful and lyrical, yet preserves the mysterious and modernist idioms.  Museums housing Davies' works include The Metropolitan Museum; Art Institute of Chicago; San Francisco Art Institute; Corcoran Gallery of Art; Musees Nationaux Paris, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The Museum of Modern Art; National Gallery of Art.

SOLD

Willard Leroy Metcalf

American (Connecticut) 1858-1925

Pastel on paper, signed W. L. Metcalf and dated 1919 lower right

(A probable sketchbook study in preparation for “Maytime” of 1919, a 36" x 39" oil on canvas)

Provenance: by descent, three generations in a Canadian family collection

Willard Metcalf was one of the most important Impressionist landscape painters and members of "The Ten" – an early 20^th century group of Boston and New York painters committed to impressionism, with whom he exhibited until 1897.  He became known as the "quintessential painter of New England landscapes", his style fusing the best of French impressionism, gleaned from the Academy Julian, with the American spirit of realism. His short curved brushstrokes, strong composition and clear colors depicted the New England landscapes with an enigmatic soft but powerful combination.

In 1919, Metcalf painted his second version of "Maytime", the painting achieving both the second and third places among his auction records.  "Maytime" (1919) was purportedly painted near Woodbury, CT.  The ffered pastel is a sketchbook depiction of the same scene from a slightly different vantage point, signed and also dated 1919, lower right.  The provenance is with a Canadian family, for three generations.

Metcalf's works are represented in museums throughout America, as well as The White House

and the Musée d'Art Américain Giverny in France.

SOLD

Norwood Creech

American, Tennessee/Arkansas, Contemporary

"Night Scene, Looking to Robinsonville"

Oil on Panel, Signed l.r.

Norwood Creech is the third in a family of female painters, all well schooled in the classical traditions in both painting and drawing.  Yet Norwood's style has emerged distinctively her own, combining the best of classical aspects with best of the contemporary spirit, energy and brevity.  She has already attained a strong auction record and had noteworthy honors and exhibitions.  These honors include a Master Program with Wayne  Thiebaud, at Santa Fe Institute; an exhibition for the Lincoln Center Institute for Aesthetic Learning; and a  residency at Dorland Mountain Artist Colony, Temecula, California.  She has  had numerous exhibitions,  including the University of Memphis Museum.  She is represented in some leading collections throughout the United States.

The presented work is both early 20th century and contemporary impressionist in execution .  The fluid  brushwork and deep luminous colors depict a pastoral night scene alive with energy and light.  Night scenes   have been attempted by many artists, but painted successfully by only a few.  Framed in an 18K giltwood punchwork Bucks County frame.

Johann Berthelsen

Danish / American (New York) 1883-1972

“An Evening Walk in New York City”

Oil on Canvasboard
Signed Johann Berthelsen l.r.

Housed in a carved giltwood frame with linen liner

Johann Berthelsen was a "late" American Impressionist.  His paintings of New York landscapes, particularly snow scenes and nocturnal park scenes, most done on quite small canvases, encapsulate a time gone by in a manner compared with Claude Monet.  In the French manner, he placed impressionistically painted figures in cityscapes, often with flags and city traffic.  These freely depicted canvases are usually on a thinly painted ground, with daubs of color which take form only when viewed from a distance.  Berthelsen had a mastery of representing atmosphere, which many contemporary New York painters did not possess.

The presented work is somewhat unusual for Berthelsen, who is known for his city snowscapes.  This luminous scene, probably a Spring evening, is alive with dancing lights and well dressed ladies and gentlemen, out for an evening stroll.  It delights the senses in every respect. 

Berthelsen is currently gaining his place among American Impressionists.  His valuation has increased 6 fold  over the past ten years.  His works are currently held in many public collections and museums. 

SOLD

"View of the Notre-Dame and the Pont De L'Archeveche"
Oil on panel, Signed G. Madelain l.r.

A French painter of landscapes, Madelain was born in Charly, France, in 1867.  Little  biographical information can be found.  Her exhibited at the Salon des Independants from 1907, and gained quite a fine reputation as a Post-Impressionist painter.  His main subjects were street and river views in Rouen, L'Havre and Paris.  His work is offered by major galleries internationally. The Paris riverscape is small, but among his better works. 

The composition, brushwork and execution are all of the highest quality. The use of light is exceptional.  The Notre Dame and Pont de L'Archeveche are silhouetted against an evening sky along the Seine with its riverboats and dockworkers, probably ending their day.  There is an enigmatic sense of both energy and quiet about the scene, created by Madelain's use of color, brushwork and space.  Framed in a 22K carved giltwood frame.

Robert (Cozad) Henri

American (New York) 1865-1929

“Flying Spray", Probably Monhegan
Oil on Panel

Unsigned, Authenticated

Robert Henri remains one of America’s most important painters.  He was a founder of the New York group of

painters known as “The Eight”, later  known as The Ashcan School. He was a highly influential teacher at

New York’s Art Student’s League, as well as several other schools, including the New York School of Art

(formerly the Chase School). 

Most know Henri for his strong portraits, lit usually with classical ¾ quarter lighting, producing powerful contrasts,

which he enhanced through slashing brush strokes and quite strong coloration.  However, he also did many

seascapes, cityscapes and landscapes for his recreation.  Many remain unsigned, as this example.  One of Henri’s

colleagues was Canadian James Wilson Morrice, who introduced him to the practice of painting pochades on

tiny wood panels that could be carried in a coat pocket along with a minimal kit of brushes and oil. This

facilitated the kind of spontaneous depictions of scenes such as the example above.  This palette of coloration is

consistent throughout his body of works.  There is an unmistakable energy to this panel, a great element of

Henri's work that makes it so immediately powerful and appealing. 

Robert Henri’s works are held in most major American museums, and the Luxembourg Gallery in Paris. 

SOLD

Jean Mannheim

German / American (California), 1861-1945

“Storm Clouds”
Signed J. Mannheim l.l
Oil on Canvasboard

Jean Mannheim, from the Alsace-Lorraine region in Germany, immigrated to America at the age of 21, and became one of Southern California's most versatile and respected painters. He was equally at home with the  figure, and with plein air landscape painting – his palette continuing to lighten as he moved into impressionism.  Mannheim was classically trained at the Delecluse Academy, the Colarossi Academy, the Academy Julian in Paris, and the London School of Art.  He also taught for a short time at the Brangwyn school of Art in London, working with the great British muralist, Frank Brangwyn.  Mannheim moved to Pasadena in 1908, where he became an integral part of the Southern California art community. He founded the Stickney Memorial School of Fine Arts in Pasadena, helped to found the California Art Club.

The presented work is mesmerizing, with its strong diagonals, brushwork and coloration of approachingstorm clouds, beginning to obscure the sun, and producing a rare halo of light. 

Housed in a 22K giltwood custom frame.

Early 20th Century Adirondack School

"Little Wolfe Pond" (New York)

Oil on Canvasboard

Inscribed in pencil verso "Little Wolfe Pond"

In original uncleaned state and original frame

With Possible Relation to Frederic Sackrider Remington's "North Country" Works (1900-1908)

American, NY/CT, 1861-1909

Provenance: Massachusetts collector; a Long Island estate

This early 20th century Adirondack painting is annotated verso "Little Wolfe Pond".  Little Wolfe Pond is  near Ogdensburg, NY, in the Adirondack State Park - an area where Frederic Remington painted in the summers, from 1900-08.  It is in a comparable style, composition and palette to his known "North Country" paintings from the area - executed in a more impressionistic manner than his well known Western works. However, at this time the actual authorship is unknown.  The painting was purchased primarily for its artistic quality, appeal and elegance.  As Remington frequently invited his colleagues to visit and paint at Ingleneuk, his summer home in Chippewa Bay, NY, "Little Wolfe Pond" might well have been painted by another fine early 20th century American impressionist - or remain of unknown authorship.

 "Little Wolfe Pond" has been accepted by the Remington committee for review in April 2008

Australian/American (New York, Massachusetts) 1876-1978

"The Old Swimming Hole"

Oil on Canvas, Signed Hayley Lever l.r.

Dated 1925 on stretcher, with title

Clayton-Liberatore Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY label verso

Provenance: Clayton-Liberatore Gallery*

Richard Hayley Lever was an Australian/American painter, immigrating to America in 1912 at the urging of Connecticut painter Ernest Lawson.  His canvases and watercolors of American life were immediately  collected by major museums, including the Metropolitan, and the Corcoran Gallery.  He worked  throughout New England and Canada, producing a body of paintings alive with color and energy.  They are particularly "American" in their presence, many having a great sense of light-heartedness.  He is represented in major museums throughout America and Australia.

"The Old Swimming Hole" is one of five Lever paintings we have been privileged to offer.  It embodies the finest elements of Lever's work - with rich coloration and tremendous energy conveyed through loaded brushwork.  It also features figures, which is somewhat scarce among his canvases. 

For more information  on Hayley Lever, please see www.mfordcreech.com/richard_hayley_lever.htm

*Leonard Clayton (Clayton-Liberatore Gallery) was Lever's sponsor and gallery both

during and after his life.

SOLD

Price Range of Items in This Catalog : 1,650.00 to 14,000.00 USD.